Pipe spinner



Nov. 17, 1942. PENF'ELD 2,302,249

PIPE SPINNER Filed March 26, 1940 I/VVf/VTOR.

544/25 A. Pf/VF/[AL Patented Nov. 17, 1942 EENT- OFFICE PIPE SPINNER I Claire A. Penfield, Long Beach, Calif.

Application March 26, 1940, Serial No. 326,076

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a pipe spinner whereby a stand of pipe is rotated by means of a rope engaging the pipe, thereby screwing the upper stand of pipe into the lower stand. In spinning the pipe, the practice heretofore has been to wrap a rope around the pipe and then pull the rope by means of the cat head on the draw-works, thereby rotating the pipe and screwing the couplings together. This practice has required the work of several men, and was dangerous for the workmen.

An object of my invention is to provide an attachment for the pipe tong which attachment holds a rope in contact with the pipe, and when said rope is pulled by the cat head, the pipe will be rotated.

A further object is to provide a pipe spinner which is simple in construction and effective in operation.

Another object is to provide a pipe spinner which can be easily operated and which requires the services of fewer men.

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pipe tongs with my spinner in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the lever arm and guide.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I indicates a pipe tongs including an arm 2 and a pair of pipe encircling jaws 3-4. The details of construction of the jaws 3-4 is usual and well known in the art and forms no part of this invention. Similarly, the latching means for these jaws may be of any usual type. The jaw 4 is pivoted to the arm 2 by a pin 5, and. the jaw 3 is pivoted as at 6 to a toggle, thereby forming a double compensating fulcrum. This arrangement is usual and well known in tongs of this character.

My spinner attachment 1 may be mounted either on top of or the bottom of the pipe tongs. In Figure 1, I have shown the attachment on top, and in Figure 2' on the bottom of the tongs. My spinner attachment consists of an arcuate arm which is pivoted on the pin 6. The pin which is usually used at 6 is removed, and a longer one inserted. Similarly, a longer pin is inserted at 5. Plates 8-9 are positioned above and below the lever 1 for the p pose of reinforcing the pins 5-6, and will hold them against possible bending.

The arcuate arm, although formed in one in tegral piece, may bedesignated as comprising a guide section I0 and a lever section II. The guide section I0 extends forwardly and partly encircles the pipe as shown in Figure 1. The rope I2 passes over a pulley I3 at the outer end of the section I0, then partly encircles the pipe and then passes over a pulley I4 on the end of the lever arm II. The rope then extends substantially parallel to the arm 2 and over a pulley I5 attached to a strap I6, which strap is secured to the end of the arm 2. After passing around the pulley I5, the rope extends to the cat head where the necessary pull is imparted to it. The rope I2 is sufiiciently long so that it will not pull entirely through the spinning attachment while the pipe is being rotated into position.

A stationary safety line I! is secured to the arm 2 and prevents rotation of the tongs around the pipe when a pull is exerted on the rop I2 by the cat head. The lower stand of pipe [8 is held stationary and in the case of an oil well, is secured in the rotary table. The upper stand of pipe I9 is lowered into the stand I8 in the usual manner and it is then necessary to spin the stand I9 so that the threaded couplings will engage. The tongs I may be positioned as shown in Figure 2 when my spinning attachment is on the bottom thereof. The tongs do not grip the pipe, and therefore do not impede its rotation.

The arcuate spinning attachment 1 partly encircles the pipe and the rope I2 engages the pipe I9 and partly encircles the same. When a pull is exerted on the rope I2, due to the lever arm I I, the arcuate guide section III is pressed towards the pipe, thus holding the rope in engagement with the pipe. The pipe I9 rotates comparatively easy and, therefore, the frictional engagement of the rope I2 will be suflicient to rotate the pipe. The final pull on the pipe I 9 in order to securely seat the same is imparted by the tongs I in the usual and well-known manner.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a pipe tongs including an arm, a pair of pipe encircling jaws, a pin extending through one end of each of the jaws whereby the jaws are pivotally mounted on the arm, with a spinning attachment including an arcuate arm, one of said pins extending through the last named arm whereby said last named arm is pivoted, guide means at both ends of said last named arm, a flexible element adapted to pass over said guide means whereby said flexible element is held in engagement with the pipe, a support on the tong arm, guide means on the support, said flexible element extending over the last named guide means.

2. In combination with a pipe tongs including an arm and a pair of pipe encircling jaws, of a spinning attachment, including an arcuate arm, means pivotally mounting the arm on the tongs, the pivot being arranged between the ends of the arm, guide means at both ends of the arcuate arm, a flexible element adapted to pass over said guide means, said flexible element being held in engagement with the pipe when a pull is imparted to the flexible element, guide means on the 3. In combination with a pipe tong including an arm and a pair of pipe encircling jaws, a spinning attachment, including an arcuate arm, means pivotally mounting the arm on the tongs with said arm partially encircling the pipe held in the jaws, the pivot being arranged between the ends of the arm, guide means at both ends of the arcuate arm, a, flexible element adaptable to pass over said guide means and pivotally encircle the pipe held in the tongs, said flexible element being pressed into engagement with the pipe when a pull is imparted to the flexible element, the pull being at an angle to the arcuate arm whereby the arcuate arm is swung towards first named arm, said flexible element extending 15 the pipe held in the tongs.

over the last named guide means.

CLAIRE A. PENFIELD. 

